In My Own Words - Willie Mitchell

Fans can relive the greatest season in Los Angeles Kings history with The Official Story of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. The commemorative book contains key details and images from the run, a foreword by Luc Robitaille, an introduction from Bob Miller and an afterward from Dustin Brown, and also included is an exclusive DVD with Bob Miller and Jim Fox announcing the Cup-clinching Game 6.

Here now on LAKings.com we again share a portion of this special book as veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell – who earned the Kings’ “Outstanding Defenseman” Award in 2011-12 -- in his own words talks about the experience of what it was like to match-up against his former teammates, the Canucks, in Round One:

When we realized we would be playing Vancouver in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we were very excited. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, so we looked at playing the NHL’s top team as a great opportunity. We also thought the Canucks would be a good matchup for us because we had gone up against them two years earlier in the playoffs and played very well. (I was actually with Vancouver during that series but, due to a concussion, did not play.)

Entering the playoffs, we believed we were much better than the typical eighth-place team. We underachieved for much of the regular season, but by the time the playoffs began, we were playing well and I don’t think there was a team in the Western Conference that wanted to face us.

Personally, it was easy for me to get up for the Vancouver series because I had spent four years with the Canucks, and competing against my former team gave me a little extra adrenaline. I have a great relationship with all my ex-teammates in Vancouver, but you always want to show your old team what you can do, so that series meant a lot to me. We got a big goal from Dustin Penner late in Game 1, and we continued to get timely goals throughout the series.

After we completed the upset of Vancouver, we felt really confident. We looked around at the teams that were left and felt we matched up very well against all of them. In Darryl Sutter, we had a coach who was very good at keeping us in the moment and getting us to put all our energy into the game we were about to play, and I think that is one of the reasons we were able stay so focused throughout the entire postseason.

THE BOOK -- MORE

The Collector’s Edition is $60 and includes the following: The book and DVD of Game 6 (versus New Jersey) with Miller and Fox’s call.

The Special Limited Edition is $450 and includes the following:

The book, DVD of Game 6, piece of authentic board glass from Game 6, leather binding and a presenting container. Only 450 of this edition have been printed.

LA Kings Full Season Ticket Members save $10 off the book.

To obtain a copy, shop TEAM LA Store at STAPLES Center or call 877-257-4916. Available only while supplies last.

More info: http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=82869&navid=DL|LAK|home